A CHILDREN’S protection charity has welcomed the sentencing of a custodian of a famous house near Stourport, who was jailed for seven years for sex offences against a teenage girl.

The NSPCC have released a statement praising the victim of Steven Yates for “bravely” coming forward and urged other victims of sexual abuse to do the same.

Yates, of the Old Forge, in Tenbury Wells, was found guilty by a jury at Worcester Crown Court of three charges of taking indecent photographs and four of indecently assaulting the girl at the back of the ticket office at Witley Court during the early 1990s.

He was cleared of one charge of taking indecent photographs. Yates continued to deny all of the allegations, the court heard.

The girl – now a grown woman – said in a victim statement that Yates, now aged 60, “stole her childhood” when he abused her at Witley Court, in Great Witley, near Stourport.

A spokesman for the NSPCC said: “It is hard to underestimate the devastating impact that sexual abuse can have on a child throughout their life.

“By bravely coming forward, Yates’ victim has shown that anyone who has suffered abuse can get justice, no matter how long ago it happened.

“But it is vital that victims receive the help they need to get their lives back on track.

“Right, the government is not counting the number of children who have been abused and therapeutic support cannot be appropriately targeted.

“Earlier this month, the NSPCC handed our ‘It’s Time’ petition to the government to demand these changes.

“We urge all victims of sexual abuse to come forward to the police or call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.”